The federal government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, are set to seal a landmark agreement on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, in a move widely seen as a major boost to industrial harmony and stability in Nigeria’s public university system.

The arrangements will also cover increase in allowances of university teachers.

These have been sources of disagreements between the government and the union leading to incessant breaks in academic programmes through industrial actions.

At the signing ceremony holding in Abuja are the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa who is leading the government team.

Leading the team of ASUU is its president Prof Chris Piwuna.

Speaking, the ASUU president lamented the rot in the universities.

Among these include the running of universities by those he called consultants.

He also said the governance structure of the universities are suspect adding that issues of transparency need to be looked into.

Specifically, Piwuna said the conversion of colleges of education in the country are not helping the education sector.

He said many Colleges of Education have been converted into universities without adequate preparation to make them deliver true university education.

Piwuna added that many vice chancellors of the converted institutions are already promoting their senior lecturers to professors adding these are not following laid down procedures.

Observers believe the agreement represents one of the most comprehensive reforms in Nigeria’s university system in recent decades and could mark a turning point in ending recurring industrial disputes that have disrupted academic calendars nationwide.